As the days went by, Lena noticed subtle shifts in their relationship. Jace, though still reserved, began to open up in small ways. He would pass her in the hall and offer a nod, or make a quick, dry joke about something that made her laugh unexpectedly. It wasn't much, but it was enough to make Lena feel like they were no longer total strangers.
But the real change came one evening after dinner. Clara had been talking non-stop about plans for a family outing over the weekend. Lena had zoned out, lost in her own thoughts, when Jace leaned over to her, his voice low.
"I'm not sure I can do this," he said, his words catching her off guard. "I don't know what's going on with me, but it feels like I'm always walking on eggshells around you. It's... confusing."
Lena blinked at him. "I feel the same way."
Jace met her gaze, his blue eyes dark with something unreadable. "I don't want to make things awkward between us," he said. "But sometimes, it feels like... like I'm supposed to act like we're just family, but I can't ignore that... there's something more."
Lena's heart raced. She wanted to say something, to reassure him that she didn't want things to be awkward either, but her mind was swirling with her own feelings. She had felt it too—the pull, the tension that seemed to always hang between them. And now, hearing it out loud made it all feel real.
"I don't know what to do about it," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then Jace leaned in, his face close to hers, his breath warm against her skin. He didn't say anything, but the intensity in his gaze was enough to make Lena's heart race faster.
Before she could stop herself, her lips parted slightly, and the world seemed to pause.
But then Clara's voice interrupted them, calling from the kitchen, and they both pulled away, their moment of closeness shattered.
"Hey! What are you two doing?!" Clara called with a teasing tone.
Lena's breath caught in her throat as she tried to compose herself, her heart pounding in her chest. She glanced at Jace, who had already stood up, his expression unreadable. He gave her a tight-lipped smile, but his eyes didn't quite meet hers.
"I guess we'll talk about it later," he muttered, turning to leave the room.
Lena watched him go, her mind racing. The connection between them was undeniable, but it was also dangerous. She couldn't let herself get too close to him—not when they were supposed to be family.
But as she sat there, her thoughts scattered, she knew deep down that things were about to change. And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.
Great! Let's continue the story and explore how the relationship between Lena and Jace evolves, while dealing with the complicated emotions that arise from their growing feelings.
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